(The Center Square) - Voters in Washington’s fourth congressional district decide in the Aug. 4 primary which candidates will represent central Washington in the general election without an incumbent on the ballot.
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., is not running for reelection to the central district. In his place, six Republicans, one Democrat and two independent candidates are vying for the congressman’s position. The Center Square spoke to candidates in the district about their policies and campaign platforms ahead of the upcoming primary.
Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County Commissioner, is in the lead for fundraising efforts to replace Newhouse with more than $215,000. She said she has received endorsements from President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other notable leaders to succeed Newhouse.
McKinney did not respond to The Center Square’s request for comment. Her campaign has focused on supporting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and pursuing fraud in federal programs.
“She exposed flawed COVID data that kept Central Washington locked down and helped uncover millions of dollars in fraudulent aid claims, protecting taxpayers,” McKinney’s website reads.
Candidates from both parties said Newhouse did not do an adequate job bringing financial resources back to the district. Jarrod Sessler, a Republican running for the seat, said Newhouse has not leveraged his position to bring federal investment to businesses in eastern Washington.
“When constituents in the district needed help with something, he just didn't have a system to be able to handle that,” Sessler told The Center Square. “We have lots of projects that we could be working on and improving our environment and business standing here in Central Washington.”
Sessler said the current Congress has frustrated him due to prolonged government shutdowns and continued arguments over appropriations for agencies like the Department of Homeland Security. He called for Congress to break up its appropriations process into smaller bills to prevent large omnibus spending that drives up the debt.
“Rather than going towards these omnibus and continuing resolutions, it allows the American people to see and to hold the legislators accountable to their vote on a very micro level,” Sessler said.
Ken Vaz, another Republican running in the district, also criticized the growing number of omnibus funding bills in Congress. He specifically criticized the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July 2025, for its implementation of Medicaid funding cuts and “pork.”
“Over time a lot of people are going to lose their coverage, especially seniors and children and working families that are facing hardship,” Vaz told The Center Square. “I also think it was just too big of a bill. It was too fiscally irresponsible.”
Vaz said he supports targeted tax relief for small businesses, working families and first time home buyers.
John Duresky, the only Democrat running for Newhouse’s seat, has sharply criticized the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. He decided to join the race after taking early retirement from a position within the U.S. Department of Energy while the government was downsizing under Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
He said government cuts under the Trump administration and DOGE will likely be felt for years to come.
“The damage has been much more extreme than the media is even telling,” Duresky told The Center Square. “Maybe they're not noticing today, maybe they're going about their regular business, but people are going to notice.”
Durseky also criticized the Trump administration’s pursuit of fraud in federal programs like Medicaid, SNAP and Medicare. He said work requirements to receive government assistance are cumbersome and called for the tax code to be reformed in a way that cuts out “loopholes” for wealthy people.
Another Republican in the race, John Hughs, has called for a reduction in military spending and the placing at least 80% of the U.S. Army in reserve.
“There can no longer be unlimited military spending. Every branch of the federal government must be held to a limited amount of budgeted money. A balanced budget is mandatory,” Hughs told Ballotpedia. “We return to solvency or we will lose our currency and all our freedom with it.”
For fundraising, McKinney has received $10,000 from Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans PAC, an organization associated with Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; $2,500 from the Fight On PAC, a group associated with Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson; and $7,000 from Roderick Matson, an apple farmer in central Washington.
Sessler follows with more than $67,000 in cash on hand. He received $1,000 from the Douglas County Republican Central Committee and $2,000 from Catherin Monson, an executive at Propelled Brands.
Matthew Boenke, a Washington senator trails Sessler in contributions with more than $63,000 in cash on hand. His campaign is focused on touting previous legislation and other accomplishments through his tenure as a state senator, which includes securing $75 million for the Tri-Tech Skills Center expansion.
Boenke did not respond to requests for an interview from The Center Square.
Duresky, the only Democrat in the race, has $34,000 in cash on hand. He received $1,000 from Bruce Williams, a member on the board of directors at Cascade Medical.
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